North American softwood lumber output rose again slightly in the second quarter of with an increase of 2% to 33.8m m³. Previously, in the first quarter, stagnation occurred for the first time in quite a while due to the extremely adverse weather conditions. Total North American softwood lumber output rose slightly cumulated over the first six months of 2014 as well, namely by 2% to 66.2m m³ due to the stronger second quarter.
The growth in the production volume against 2013 was solely attributable to the USA’s higher output of softwood lumber in the second quarter as well as the six-month period. At roughly 19.0m m³ 7% more softwood lumber was produced there in the second quarter than in the same period of last year. Over the whole of the first half-year, US softwood lumber output increased 4% to 36.8m m³.
In Canada, on the other hand, a reduction of 2% was registered in the second quarter to 14.8m m³
and of 1 % in the first half-year to 29.4m m³.